Recitation and performance are major new trends in poetry.There has been a recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of hip-hop music.

Poetry Out Loud builds on that momentum by inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theatre into the English class.
The Tennessee Arts Commission, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, offers the opportunity for Tennessee students to learn great poetry through memorization and recitation. The program begins in the classroom, broadens to regional and state level competitions and culminates at the National Finals in Washington, D.C.

Poetry Out Loud is entering its eighth exciting year in Tennessee. Poetry Out Loud is administered by the Tennessee Arts Commission. Contact Nan Zierden at (615) 532-5934 or nan.zierden@tn.gov for information and a toolkit. The Poetry Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Tennessee Arts Commission provide all the necessary materials for sponsoring a Poetry Out Loud contest in your school.